Wisconsin's Indian Summer

I believe that Mother Nature tries to compensate for the cold and wet summer. We still enjoyed a beautiful display of "Indian Summer" and we managed to gather a bountiful crop of tomatoes, which Jane processed into tasty and healthy tomato juice.
We didn't have too much luck with our potatoes. They showed a great promise, but some ground animals liked them as well, thus decimating them to some degree.

Visiting again the enchanted New Mexico

Abiquiu, Sept. 10/2009

I woke up @ 5.00 AM, to anxious to sleep. Another trip, another adventures. Jean will pick me up to take me to Van Galder bus, which in turn will take me to the Amtrak station in Chicago.
"Southwest Chief" will take me to Santa Fe and from there I'll go to Abiquiu, NM to immerse myself in the photography workshop given by Elderhostel.

Going to the Sun road

On Tuesday we headed to Many Glacier Lodge, built in 1914 by Pacific Railways.On the way we stopped to photograph Jackson Glacier, which, as we were told wilt be gone in the next 23 years.
On Wednesday we had to get up at 4 AM to drive to the mountains, then walk up to the top to catch the sunrise over the mountain top. It was spectacular!

Glacier National Park

Now that the gardens are established with planted potatoes, onions, tomatoes and more veggies planted by Jane in the lower garden I could take off on some exciting trips.
This time I chose to go to Glacier National Park.
I boarded Amtrak in Columbus, WI and arrived in Whitefish, MT. the following day late evening.
Next day I've met the other Elderhostelers in the Hybernation House to attend our photography program:"Tripods at Timberline"
Steve, our Instructor, introduced us to "Principles of photography, stressing the "Art of seeing".

SPRING ON RHF

AFTER SOME DELAYS AND UNPREDICTABLE WEATHER SPRING FINALLY ESTABLISHED ITSELF GIVING US PLENTY OF WORK.
THIS YEAR STAS' PLANNED HIS UPPER GARDEN BY DESIGNING WIDE ROWS TO SEED WITH CLOVER, THUS ENRICHING THE SOIL AND TAKING CONTROL OF THE WEEDS.
THE IDEA WORKED WELL. WE PLANTED 2 1/2 ROWS OF POTATOES (WITH OUR OWN SEED POTATOES FROM PREVIOUS YEAR) AND ONE LONG ROW OF ONIONS.
AFTER MOWING STAS' TILLED CLOSE TO THE PLANTS AND JULIA RAKED AND HILLED THE PLANTS WITH THAT FRIABLE SOIL. SOOKIE WANTED TO BE IN THE ACT, BUT HAD TO BE DIVERTED TO HER OWN ANTICS.

Cajun Country - Lafayette, LA

It was truly a fun week. I learned Cajun dancing, delighted in Cajun cuisine, (was introduced to boudin sausage), and beautiful and mysterious bayous, with its flora and fauna. Being in a company of fellow Elderhostelers and especially my daughter Irene was additional plus of this great adventure.

The Spring has arrived!

The birds are here! It must be the Spring! But this year I am going South to take Ederhostel's workshop" Wildlife and culture of Louisiana's Cajun Country" in Lafayette LA. My daughter, Irene, will join me there to take the second week of" Digital Photography & Unique Beauty of Louisiana". Alligators will greet us there in the Atchafalaya Basin swamp, as well as egrets and other southern birds.
It should be exciting!

Spring around the corner?

The bitter and cold winter is hopefully loosening its grip. Some people experienced the hardships, but some found joy of winter sports like working kites on Lake Monona. Children didn't seem to mind the cold weather sledding on the hill in our neighborhood.
I am finally ready to go South. I've registered for the Elderhostel's programs in Lafayette, LA.
I'll hope I'll get a "good shot" at the alligators and the birds in the swamps of Atchafalaya Basin.